Bolster mechanism for motor-vehicles.



P. J'. SMITH BOLSTER MEGHANISM POBJ MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, I

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

FFID.V

PAUL J'. SMITH, OF GALEVTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOLSTEE MECI-IANISM `FOIE. MOTOR-VEHICLES.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galeton, in the county of Potter and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolster Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being iad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to motor vehicles, and has for its object the construction of bolster mechanism adapted for use upon motor vehicles of the four wheel drive and steering type.

The features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out and explained, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l, is a view in elevation and partially in transverse central section of my improved bolster mechanism. Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of the saine. Fig. 3, is a vertical section on the line Il in Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 1I, is an enlarged horizont-al section of a fragment thereof. Fig. 5, is an enlarged vertical section similar to the view in Fig. 1. Y

In these drawings A, indicates a hollow axle and gear housing, and A', indicates the wheels. @n the upper side of the central portion of the hollow axle A, I provide a circular disk A2, having a groove a, around its periphery, w iich groove is widest at the sides a', thereof, toward each of the wheels A', than at the front and back a2. At the central part of the upper surface of the disk A2, I make a semi-spherical depression as shown by broken lines in Fig. 5.

Adjacent to each end of the hollow axle A, I provide box like receptacles A3, having openings a3, through the bottoms thereof. In these receptacles A3, I place side bearing blocks B, which are provided with U-shaped guides B', which extend downwardly through the opening a3, and around the lower side of the axle A.

Secured to the under side of the hollow axle A, I provide springs B2, which press upwardly against the U-shaped guides B', thereby maintaining the side bearing blocks B, in their upper-most position.v

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Application filed May 31, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

serial No. 771,099.

In the semispherical depression in the top of the disk A2, I place a pivot, preferably a ball, C. Upon the pivot ball C, I place a bolster D, having in `the central part thereof an inverted cylindrical chamber D', which chamber is provided with an inverted semi-spherical depression D2, adapted to fit over the pivot ball C. Around the internal wall of the chamber-D', I provide a groove (l, the width of said groove being equal to the widest portion a', of the groove a, around the periphery of the disk A2, the grooves a and CZ, forming a race-way for ballsE (see Figs. 4 and 5) placed therein.

The bolster D, extends over the axle A, toward each wheel A', and terminates over the side bearing blocks B, and is provided in the under side thereof with transverse grooves d', adapted to receive balls cl2, which are retained in place in said grooves by means of slotted plates d3, secured on the under side of the bolster, which permit the balls (Z2, to extend slightly below the under surface of said plates.

Upon the upper sides of the end portions of the bolster D, I place transverse springs F, and upon the central portion of the bolster D, I preferably place additional springs F', which extend over the bolster D. Upon the'ends of the rsprings F, and F', I place the side bars G, of the body frame of the vehicle and connect the side-bars G, by means of transverse bars Gr'.

To the top of the bolster D, I secure an eye bolt II, which passes upwardly therefrom through an opening in the transverse bars G'. Upon this eye bolt I-I, I place a spring II', which rests upon the transverse bars G', and above the spring I-I', on the bolt I-I, I place a washer h, and nut h', which bolt H, and spring I-I', control the rebound of the springs F, and F'. In order to get the balls E, into t-he grooves a' and d, I provide openings e, in the walls of the chamber D', (see Fig. 4,) and after the bolster D, is in place upon the axle A, the balls E, are inserted through the openings c, into said grooves a', and d. then the openings e, are closed by means of the plugs e'.

'Ihe operation of the narrow portion a2, of the groove a, is to prevent the axle A. from rocking upon its axis while the widened portion a', of the grooves a, permits the axle A, to rock laterally upon the pivot ball C, while the balls E, operate in conjunction with the grooves a', and d, to prevent the bolster l),'lro1nbeing lifted upwardly oil' oft the disk fr. lllhen the bolster D rocks laterally upon the pivot ball C, the balls d2, in the ends thereof contact with the spring' pressed side bearing blocks B, which liniit the side movement of the body of the vehicle.

Having thus shown and described niy in vention so as to enable others to utilize the saine, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination in a device of the character describedv of a vehicle axle, a disk on the upper side thereof having` a groove around its periphery of greater width over the axle than at the front and back of said disk, a bolster', a depending cylindrical flange thereon adapted to embrace the periphery oit' said disk, and having an annular Ls roove of greater width at the sides than at the fro-nt and back thereof adapted to coincide with the groove around the periphery of said disk, a supportingI pivot interposed between said axle and bolster', and a series of balls in said grooves, whereby said axle `and bolster are locked together and lateral. movement with relation to each other permitted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

in a device oli' the character described, au axle nieinber, a disk on the upper side oit the middle portion thereof having, a groove around its periphery, a pivot ball centrally placed on said disk, side bearing surfaces adjacent to the ends oli said axle member, a bolster-member having,- a depend ing cylindrical flange forming a chamber at its iniddle portion adapted to einbrace said disk, and provided with an endless Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve Vcents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 'atents,

`groove in its interior wall, adapted to coincide with the groove in said disk`v side bearing surfaces on the under side of said bolster ineinber adapted. to Contact with the side bearing' surfaces on said axle ineinber, and a series of balls in the said grooves between the periphery of said disk and the inner wall of said chamber whereby said axle and bolster are locked together substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a device oli' the clnuaeter described, of an axle ineinber, a disk on the upper side thereot' having a groove around. its periphery, said groove being,` wider at the sides ot said disk toward the ends of the axle than at its front and back portions; spring pressed side bearing blocks on the upper side of said axle ineinber; a pivot ball mounted on said disk; a bolster nieniber, a depending cylindrical flange adapted to embrace said disk, and having an endless groove in the inner suriace thereof, adapted to coincide with the groove in the periphery of said disk; a series of balls in said grooves adapted to lock said axle and bolster nienibers together; side bearings on the ends ot said bolster ineniber having ball grooves in the under surface thereof; balls in said grooves adapted to engage said springl pressed blocks, and slotted plates secured. on the under side oli said side beariiigs adapted to retain said balls in said grooves; substantially as set forth.

in testinieir i whereof allix niy signature. in presence oi' two witness FAUL J.

SilllITl'l. lll'itnesses lll. H. liviano,

J. iii. CoNNnns.

Washington, 2D. C. 

